Hercules police say a recent enforcement push pulled 13 firearms off city streets, including weapons reported stolen and guns found with people who are not allowed to have them because of felony convictions. The department shared photos of the collection, publicly praised its officers and urged residents to speak up about any suspicious firearm activity.
In today's Facebook post, the Hercules Police Department said officers had “confiscated 13 firearms from our streets,” and noted that several of the guns were either reported stolen or found with convicted felons, which the department said increases the risk of violence for residents. The message thanked officers for their dedication and courage, said the department remains committed to safeguarding the community through proactive enforcement and partnerships, and urged the public to report criminal activity involving firearms to help keep neighborhoods safe.
Why these seizures matter in California
State officials say pulling illegal weapons out of circulation is a core part of California’s broader effort to cut gun violence and keep firearms away from people who are legally barred from having them. The California Department of Justice’s Armed and Prohibited Persons System (APPS) enforcement work targets individuals who become prohibited and is designed to remove their guns. In 2024, the office reported removing 4,058 individuals from the APPS database and documenting more than 12,000 new entries for people who became prohibited, according to the California Department of Justice. Local recoveries like those in Hercules feed into that larger push to separate illegal firearms from people considered dangerous.
Local pattern of firearm recoveries
The Hercules area has seen multiple illegal-gun recoveries during traffic stops and focused patrols in recent years. In 2019, city leaders voiced concern after a run of firearm seizures during traffic stops and a triple shooting in nearby Rodeo, with officials noting an uptick in guns taken during stops in the region, according to KTVU. Police leaders have said routine encounters like these can sometimes head off future crimes by getting guns out of circulation before someone pulls the trigger.
Earlier operations have also uncovered unserialized “ghost” guns and other unregistered weapons. In 2021, a Hercules traffic stop led officers to two unregistered pistols built on ghost-gun frames, a case that highlighted the range of illegal firearms local officers are encountering beyond traditional, traceable weapons, according to Richmond Standard.
What the law says about possession
Under California law, people with felony convictions are prohibited from having guns at all. Penal Code section 29800 makes it a crime for anyone convicted of a felony to own or possess a firearm, and the statute can apply even when a person has constructive control of a weapon rather than direct physical custody, according to the California Penal Code. Law enforcement officials and public safety advocates say getting guns away from prohibited individuals reduces risks for survivors of violence and the wider community.
